Atlanta-Dallas game anything but business as usual

Saturday

ATLANTA - No matter how much the Atlanta Falcons want to believe tonight's game against Dallas is business as usual, they know there's nothing normal about it.

First, it's tonight, not Sunday afternoon. And more important, an entire season's worth of work may be riding on the outcome.

"You can't treat this as just another game because it's not," said linebacker Ike Reese. "It's hard to dispute this isn't a bigger game than normal."

The 7-6 Falcons need a win to keep their NFC wild card hopes alive. They control their own postseason destiny. If they win their final three games, they will make the playoffs. If they lose, they need a lot of help.

Dallas is 8-5.

The team tried to keep things as routine as possible, but there were noticeable differences. Head coach Jim Mora had some members of the media removed from Wednesday's practice, saying he wants to know in advance who will be watching workouts.

Running backs Warrick Dunn (strained calf) and Jerious Norwood (knee) both were injured in last Sunday's win at Tampa. They both practiced Friday, but Mora still won't say if they will play inside the Georgia Dome. He also won't say if fullback Justin Griffith will be moved to running back if they aren't at full speed.

All the speculation at running back sparked reports that Atlanta may use quarterback Mike Vick at running back and promote backup Matt Schaub. Both Vick and Mora offered hauntingly familiar responses, saying Vick is a quarterback, not a running back. Neither, however, denied such a plan is in the works.

Mora also had to spend time Friday trying to retract comments he made with a Seattle radio station on Thursday night. He said he'd like to coach at the University of Washington, but he insisted a day later it was said in jest. He and Atlanta owner Arthur Blank issued statements Friday afternoon apologizing for the comment.

Under normal circumstances, the uncertainty at running back and the comments on the radio wouldn't be a big deal. Veterans Reese and safety Chris Crocker have been through a lot of big games during their careers and they said these are not normal circumstances.

"This is so important," Crocker said. "We're in contention (for the playoffs); they're in contention. It's do or die. The key is not to be uptight. We've really concentrated on being more focused this week. We've really concentrated on all the little things."

Part of that includes work in the secondary. The running back position isn't the only spot on the Falcons' roster with health issues. Rookie cornerback Jimmy Williams will get a lot of playing time, although he's only been back for one game after missing three with a sore ankle. Jason Webster has missed the last five games with a torn groin. Although he's practiced this week, he said he's not at full speed and doubts he will be able to play.

That leaves 5-foot-8 Allen Rossum in the starting lineup at left corner. And that also creates a matchup problem against 6-3 Terrell Owens.

Williams is 6-2. And like Owens, he plays with a tremendous amount of confidence. And like Owens, he's not afraid to show it.

"The good thing is they won't see me much on film," Williams said of an injury that cost him nearly a month of recovery time. "In our minds, this is the playoffs. It's that time of year. It's that time to step up and make plays. All I can do is play my game. I can't wait to play against (Owens)."

Williams said there will be a lot of banter with Owens. The Falcons have not warned him to back off of his over-the-top attitude, but they have asked him to shorten some of his celebrations.

"They don't want me to stop being me," Williams said. "They just don't want me to do it too long."

Crocker said confidence is an important part of a defensive back's arsenal. So much of their success is determined in the most basic of confrontations - a one-on-one clash of skills.

"A big part of a good corner's game is confidence," Crocker said. "The really good ones had big attitudes. They are playmakers. They don't get rattled easy. With them, it's important they not get too excited during the week. You want them amped up for the game. That's a big part of T.O.'s game, too. This game will bring out the best in both of them.

"When you have a game like this, the big players step up. Only a few teams still have a chance (to make the playoffs). Right now, a chance is very precious. You don't want to give it away without a fight."

Reese said he likes the way his team prepared this week for the game. He said by the time the game starts, the Falcons should be at their emotional peak.

"We're not too tight," he said. "This is way too important to get too uptight. We talk about keeping things under control, but we all know this isn't a normal game. By the time we get to (the game), we should be ready to explode."

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